The letter then went on to chide the Schaefer family for making their home into “billboards for [their] opinions,” and asked that they be mindful of their neighbors who oppose their views.
“Thank you in advance for caring enough about the people you live side-by-side, especially with different viewpoints, to remove your sign," the letter read. "Signed, your neighbors."
After realizing none of her neighbors received a similar note, Schaefer believes the note might have been in antagonism toward the Black community.
“It’s a campaign of hate," she said. "They are trying to instill uncertainty which leads to fear. I think what that letter says is that Black people wouldn’t be welcome here, and I don’t think that’s true.”
The letter also implied the signs brought down property taxes and lowered interest in the neighborhood.
Susan Schiff, who's been working in real estate in Webster Groves for 35 years, said she hasn’t seen any trends or evidence that back up the letter’s claim.
"The reality is prices are up," she told KSDK. "The number of sales are up year-to-date from last year to this year. If anything, I'm seeing a bump."
Schiff said home buyers are particularly interested in areas with kind neighbors who treat each other well.
"Racism, there's no room for that. No place for that. I think whoever wrote this letter is sadly misinformed,” she said.
More than 90% of Webster Groves' population is white, according to Census data. About 5.7% of the town’s population is Black.
As a result of other racial tension reported in the city, officials have committed to a number of partnerships and initiatives meant to improve social equity for the Black community.
On July 13, the Webster Groves School District Board voted to approve a position for a director of diversity, equity and inclusion, The Webster-Kirkwood Times reports. Among many community-centered functions, the position will “serve as the district liaison to students, staff, families and district stakeholders on matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion."
"We believe that each of us in the school system — all 900 staff members — is responsible for being champions for diversity, but we would benefit by having someone whose role is exclusively for championing it," School District Superintendent John Simpson said.
